[aardvark_65]

Does anyone know of any freeware to convert RA files to MP3 or WAV? There seem to be a few shareware programs, but the only freeware I found (Free RM to MP3 Convertor 1.12) doesn't work. It gave me an error saying I needed to update directx to vers 8.1 or above - but I already have vers 9.0c. And on one of the web sites I saw that others have had the same problem.

I have Win XP Pro SP2.

 

[stantley]

Try dBpowerAmp Music Converter, you can get the last freeware version here http://www.aplusfreeware.com/categories/Audio-Video/dBpowerAmp.html

Then go here http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-ra.htm to get the Real Audio codec.

And for that to work go here http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1054136293/1 to get Real Player Alternative.

 

[BarnStorm]

Another one which I think will do this is SuperC from eRightSoft.

I started using it recently and was fairly impressed. I have not, however, tried to convert RA to MP3. But RA is identified as an input it can work with.

Sorry I don't have a direct link handy.

 

[aardvark_65]

Thanks for the replies. I downloaded Superc (from http://www.erightsoft.com), but it doesn't work on my laptop - it's VERY slow, aborted once with no error message, and gives an error when trying to convert a .RMJ (Realaudio) file. It does play the file though. The program seems to have very high PC requirements (minimum 1800MHz Pentium 4), and my laptop, which was pretty much top of the range when I bought it 2 years ago, is 1700MHz.

I'll now try dbPoweramp

 

[aardvark_65]

I'm not doing too well - I can't get dbPoweramp to work either

Stantley, I downloaded dbPoweramp, the realaudio codec, and real alternative, then added the lines to the .txt file via "configure directshow decoder", then reran dmc configuration. However when I tried to convert a .rm file, it gave a message "the CODEC required to decompress xxxxxx.rm could not be opened. Directshow filter for .rm not installed, or audio file corrupt". However the file isn't corrupt, because it plays in media player classic. I tried renaming the file to .ra (and it still plays in media player classic), but same error message when trying to convert.

Do I have to do something else?

 

[stantley]

What is the file extension of the file you are trying to convert and what is the file size?

 

[aardvark_65]

File is actually .rmj. It plays in Realplayer as a rmj, but not media player classic. However if it is renamed to .rm it still plays in Realplayer, and also in media player classic. If it is renamed to .ra it also plays in both. It is about 2.7MB

 

[stantley]

I've never ran across an .rmj file, try looking here: http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=11

 

[cwwozniak]

File is actually .rmj.

Found something called RMJ2MP3 with a quick Google search ...

http://www.brothersoft.com/mp3_audio/rippers_encoders/rmj2mp3_32416.html

DISCLAIMER: I just found it. I have never tried downloading or using it. It is up to you to determine the suitability of the program for your particular requirements.

 

[aardvark_65]

I tried RMJ2MP3, but once again, no luck. It produced output files of 0 bytes.

I looked again at dbpoweramp, and instead of the directshow codec I used the realaudio input codec. This time it worked - it's slow (does conversion in "real time"), but it does work.

Thanks for the help.

 

[stantley]

Good, I'm glad you a least got something to work. Another method you could use which may or may not be any faster would be to use Realplayer (or Realplayer Alternative) to burn the .rmj files to an audio disc and then rip them to Mp3 files. If you didn't want to keep the audio CD's you could keep re-using a CD-RW.